The social, community, and sporting impact of medium and small-sized sports events: evidence from the italian national university championships

THE SOCIAL, COMMUNITY, AND SPORTING IMPACT OF MEDIUM AND SMALL-SIZED SPORTS EVENTS: EVIDENCE FROM THE ITALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS FALESE, L., ROSSINI, L. UNIVERSITY OF CASSINO AND SOUTHERN LAZIO INTRODUCTION: Medium and small-sized sports events promote community engagement, social cohesion, and local economic benefits. While large-scale events like the Olympics receive extensive attention, smaller events remain underex- plored despite their socio-economic potential. This study examines the 2022 Italian National University Championships (CNU), which attracted 2500 university athletes, assessing its influence on local spectators sense of belonging, community pride, motivation to be physically active, and satisfaction. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered to 221 local spectators, measuring variables such as service satisfaction, community pride, motivation to be physically active, and sense of belonging. Correlation and regression analyses identified key predictors of community connection and engagement. RESULTS: Higher satisfaction with event services correlated with overall satisfaction (r = 0.511, p < 0.01), while excitement for competitions also positively influenced satisfaction (r = 0.598, p < 0.01). Sense of belonging was strongly associated with event satisfaction (r = 0.551, p < 0.01) and community pride (r = 0.548, p < 0.01). Attending the event as spectators motivated individuals to be more physically active, indicating a positive sporting impact. Negative experiences (r = -0.261, p < 0.05) reduced satisfaction, but the association with logistical difficulties was weak (r = -0.091). Regression analysis confirmed pride in the host city as a significant predictor of belonging (Coef. = 0.238, p = 0.046), while motivation to en- gage in future community events emerged as the strongest factor (Coef. = 0.592, p = 0.000). Security concerns also posi- tively influenced belonging (Coef. = 0.388, p = 0.012), while environmental concerns had an adverse effect (Coef. = -0.446, p = 0.009). Discussion and CONCLUSION: The findings of this study reinforce the idea that medium and small-scale sports events, when effectively managed, can have lasting positive social impacts, particularly in terms of community engagement, sporting impact and pride. Satisfaction with event logistics and participants perceptions of security measures enhanced personal enjoyment and level of engagement. Managing negative effects and controlling undesirable impacts, such as environmental concerns and disruptions, is crucial to maintaining benefits. Future studies should continue exploring how different types of stakeholders perceive social impacts, how strategies can be developed to maximize the positive out- comes and the role of sustainable practices in maximizing social and environmental benefits. Our findings offer valuable insights for event organizers, policymakers, and stakeholders seeking to optimize sports events for community and social development minimizing dissatisfaction and promoting environmentally sustainable practices.